The Mitre, Knaresborough

The Mitre's page on the Market Town Taverns website - www.markettowntaverns.co.uk

The Mitre's page on the Market Town Taverns website - www.markettowntaverns.co.uk

Facebook page of The Mitre - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Mitre - www.facebook.com

Agree with Real Ale Ray - the trains are every 30 mins. A bit soulless and identikit inside, it is saved by great beer (TT Boltmaker for me), food and service.

Opened in 2007 by the ever-reliable Market Town Taverns group, this is a well positioned ale-house situated next to Knaresborough train station. The pub has a multiple room format, but I found it to be remarkably devoid of character, which is a bit unusual for this particular chain. The bar can be found to the right of the main entrance, with a split level layout that sees a small lower space with padded benches and a short stretch of counter. Steps lead up to a larger raised space which has been given a smart, clean look but is a bit lacking in visual distraction, except perhaps for a pump clip collection that makes its way around sections of the walls. There is standard and low stools seating in this part of the room plus a few comfier lounge type options at the far end. To the left of the entrance there is a bare boarded room with plenty of additional seating and good views out to the train station. Elsewhere there is a parquet floored dining room with lots of standard tables and chairs and the occasional potted plant, plus a function room and even a few rooms to spend the night. A fenced off seating area outside the left side of the pub also allows you to watch the trains come and go whilst supping your pint. What the pub perhaps lacks in terms of character, it more than makes up for in ale range, with the options on this visit comprising Hawkshead Iti NZPA, Okells MPA, Taylors Boltmaker, Brass Castle Hazelnut Mild, Black Sheep Bitter, Rosters Yankee, York Guzzler and West Berks Mr Chubb's Bitter. My NZPA was pretty tasty and in good condition, as you would expect from an MTT house, although the service was slow and a bit surly. I have definitely been to better MTT pubs before, but I wasn't entirely put-off by the minimalist approach to décor on show here. the beer range is the deserved star of the show here and as such, this has to rank highly when deciding where to drink in town.

Modernised, split-level Market Town Taverns bar with a two-part counter. Separate dining room at one end and letting rooms above. Patio beer garden to one side and a narrow terrace along the frontage opposite the railway station. Fine choice from eight handpumps, with York Guzzler being about the most common real ale and rarer offerings such as Brass Castle Nut Mild (£3.22) also available.